Beam connecting unit



March 9, 1943.

S. D. SZEGO BEAM CONNECTING UNITS Filed April 21 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR .STEVCND..SZE60 March 9, 1943. 5 SZEGQ 2,313,280

BEAM CONNECTING UNITS Filed April 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR YSTE VWD. 52560 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 BEAM CONNECTING UNIT Steven D.Szego, American Diagrid New York, N. Y., assignor to Corporation, NewYork, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,554

13 Claims.

My present invention relates to a connecting unit for a plurality ofbeams and more particularly to a node connecting unit for beam gridsconsisting of relatively short beams connected to each other at a seriesof grid nodes.

It is an object of my invention to provide a connecting unit for two ormore beams which makes it possible to use and re-use beams of certainstandard length with varying node distances.

It is a further object of my invention to regain the beam materialeasily and without the usual waste due to riveted, bolted, or weldedconnections.

Another object of my invention consists in a grid structure, especiallyfor non-permanent structural works, provided with node-connecting unitsof the above described type.

Still another object of my invention consists in providing anode-connecting unit which can be used for foldable grids of the typedescribed in my prior U. S. Patent application, Serial Number 368,014.

With the above objects in View, my present invention mainly consists inproviding a beam connecting unit which comprises a plurality of holdingmeans for the beams to be connected; each of these holding means has tobe shaped in such a manner as to be adapted to receive one of the beamsslidably only in longitudinal direction; all holding means have to bearranged in the connecting unit in such relative position to each otherthat each beam received by one of said holding means is adapted to carryout said sliding movement without interfering with other beam or beamsreceived by other holding means of said connecting unit.

I have found that if I use a grid beam provided with beam connectingunits of the above described type for a horizontal structure, the ownweight of the structure prevents the sliding of the beams out of theconnecting units. For certain structures as, for instance, slopingroofs, it may be preferable to provide means for fastening each of thebeams to the corresponding holding means in order to prevent unwantedsliding of these beams after they have been inserted in correct positioninto these holding means.

As explained in the foregoing, I propose to use the new beam connectingunits for a plurality, i. e., for two or more beams. When the newconnecting unit is used for two beams arranged in the same direction, itcomprises two parallel holding means, one for each of the beams; each ofthese holding means should be shaped in such a manner as to be adaptedto receive one of the beams slidable in longitudinal direction only.

If my new connecting unit is to be used for interconnecting four or morebeams, I prefer to shape the connecting unit in such a way that itcomprises a plurality of pairs of parallel holding members, of the typedescribed above; these pairs of holding members should be arranged indifferent, preferably parallel, planes, thereby enabling each beam tocarry out a sliding movement in longitudinal direction withoutinterfering with other beams.

For connecting nodes of beam grids consisting of relatively short gridbeams connected to each other at a series of grid nodes, it ispreferable to use a connecting unit of the type described in thepreceding paragraph.

I Want to note that my new beam connecting unit may be used for beamsmade of any kind of material: thus, for instance, the connecting unitsmay be employed in combination with; beams made of steel, light metal,timber, plastics, as Bakelite, or the like.

It is evident that the connecting units according to my presentinvention, may be shaped. in

the most different ways:

Thus, I may use as connecting unit a block member provided with aplurality of longitudinal holes in said block; each end of these holesshould be open at both ends and preferably should have a cross-sectionsimilar in shape to the cross section of the beam to be received by it,but slightly larger than the same.

We may also use a connecting unit comprising tubular members forreceiving the beams to be connected. In a further embodiment of ourinvention, each of the holding means consists of several, preferablytwo, brackets provided with co-axially arranged openings being shaped insuch a manner as to be adapted to hold a beam.

Further characteristic features of our new beam-connecting unit and thebeam grid incorporating these connecting units, and advantages of theimprovements proposed by us, will appear from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of ourinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting block member for two beams;

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of different connecting blockmembers for four beams;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connecting unit provided with holdingbrackets;

Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are perspective views of different beam connectingunits provided with tubular holding means;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views of different node-connectingunits for foldable grid structures and the like;

Figs. 11 and 12 are plane views of one and the same grid structureprovided with node-connecting means, used for covering different floorareas;

Fig. 13 is a plane View of a foldable grid provided with node-connectingunits according to the present invention; and

Fig. 14. is an enlarged perspective view of a node-connecting unit ofthe type used for the grid shown in Fig. 11.

The beam connecting units shown in Figs. 1 to 3, consist each of a blockmember provided with holes for receiving the beams to be connected. Theblock member ll, shown in Fig. 1, is provided with two parallelcylindrical holes 2 for receiving the beams 13 and it. The block member15, shown in Fig. 2, is cube-shaped, while the block member [3, shown inFig. 3, is of spherical shape. The beams connected by the connectingblocks shown in Figs. 1 to 3, are indicated in dotted lines.

It is evident that, by sliding the end portions of the beams to agreater or smaller extent into and through the holes ll, l8, l3 and 23,it is possible to vary the combined length of the beams 2!, 22 and 23,24, respectively. It may be observed that the holes H and 18 areparallel to each other; in the same manner, holes 19 and 26 areparallelly arranged; furthermore, the planes in which the holes l1, l8,and 19, 2'0, respectively, are located, are lying parallel to eachother: thus, also beams 2!, 22, and 2-3, 25, respectively, are parallelto each other. As, furthermore, the size of the connecting units isrelatively small compared to the length of the beams, it can be assumedthat all four beams are lying in a common plane and beams 21, 22 and 23,24, respectively, are lying in the same line, one after another.

Having now described, in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1to 3, the main char acteristics features of my new connecting units, Iwill proceed with the description of other embodiments; however, sincethe basic principles of these embodiments are the same as those of theembodiments described above in detail, the following description will bea less detailed one.

As shown in Fig. 4, I may use a connecting unit provided withbracket-like extensions 25, 26, 21 and 28, instead of the block membersshown in Figs. 1 to 3. These brackets are provided with cut-outs 29being similar in shape to the cross-section of the beams to beconnected; thus, they may be double-T-shaped, as shown in the drawing,or they may have any other shape,

within the members 33, but also to fix them in any desired position bymeans of the screws 34.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 8 to 10 are adapted for connecting thebeams in such a manner that the angle formed by the connected beams maybe varied; therefore, these embodiments are especially well adapted forfoldable grids.

The unit shown in Fig. 8 consists of two block members and 35, turnablyconnected by bolt 31; both members 35 and 33 are provided with twoparallel holes 38 and 35 for receiving the beams. It is easy tounderstand that by turning the members 35 and 36 about bolt 31'relatively to each other, it is possible to vary the angle formed by thebeams passing through hoies 33 and 39. If required, the angle betweenthe beams 38 and 39 can be fixed by means of screws or bolts 4?? ifrequired. The beams are held and connected by this unit as indicated indotted lines.

In Figs. 5 and 6, connecting units are shown which consists of tubularmember 33 welded together along welding seams 3|.

In order to avoid bending of tubular members belonging together, I mayweld them to each 1 other along welding seams In the embodiment shown inFig. 7, I use semi-cylindrically shaped tubular members 33 for holdingthe beams. By making the cross-section of the cylindrical space formedby the semicylindrical member 33, equal to or somewhat smaller than thespace needed for the beams, it is possible not only to hold the beamsslidably 32, as shown in Fig. 6.

which are inserted after the members 3" 33 have been placed into correctposition.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, tubular members 4| and 42,respectively, serve for hold-- ing the beams. The tubular members 4! aresecured, preferably by welding, to disk 43, while the tubular members 42are secured to disk 44. Disks 43 and 44 lie superimposed one uponanother, turnably connected by means of bolt 45. Bolts or screws 46serve for fastening together the two disks and the tubular memberscarried by them in the desired position.

The unit shown in Fig. 10 consists of two U shaped members 41 and 48provided with bracket-like extensions 49 and 56. These bracket-likeextensions are provided with cut-outs of required shape, e. g.,square-shaped cut-outs 5! for receiving square beams. Members 41 and 43are turnably connected by bolt 52. In this correct relative position,the two members may be welded together as indicated by numeral 53. Thelast described two units, i. e., the units shown in Figs. 9 and 10, areused in the same way as described in connection with the unit shown inFig. 8.

In Figs. 11 and 12 one and the same beam grid is shown: while in Fig. 11it covers a relatively great area, the area covered by the same grid inFig. 12 is much smaller. This can be accomplished by connecting thebeams 54 of the grid by connecting block members of the type shown inFig. 14. In Fig. 11, it may be observed that these connecting units arespaced as far as possible from each other, i. e., the beams 54 projectwith their end portions 56 only slightly, or not at all, over theconnecting blocks 55. In Fig. 12, the connecting block members 55 aremuch nearer to each other and, therefore, the free end portions 56project over the respective block members to a much greater extent. Intheir extreme position, the end portions 56 of consecutive beams are incontact with each other and can be connected, increasing thereby thestrength of the structure. Thus, it is possible to substantially varythe size of the beam grid, without changing the type of the beams used.

In Fig. 13 a foldable grid is shown. The single grid beams 51 areconnected to each other by means of turnable beam connecting members 58of the type shown in Fig. 8. Besides its foldability, the grid shown inFig. 13 shows the same characteristic features as the grid shown inFigs. 11 and 12: its size can also be varied in the way described above.

Fig. 14 shows a beam node-connecting member which is very-similar to theone shown in Fig. 2. The sole difference is that. instead of cylindricalholes, it is provided with holes having a squareshaped cross-section.This figure shows how the beams may be fixed in their required relativeposition by wedges 80 or welding along the edges 59. However, as statedabove, mostly it is unnecessary to wedge or weld the beams to theconnecting means, since sliding of the beams is prevented by thefriction between the beams and the inner surface of the hole,respectively its edges; this friction is caused by the bending momentswithin the beam structure.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ,ofbeam connecting units, differing from the types described above. 7

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in gridbeams, we do not intend to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of our invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofmy invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adaptit for various applications without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of.the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of holdingmembers and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manneras to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the samespaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thustransmitting bending moments from each of said beams to at least one ofthe other beams.

2. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallelholding members arranged in different planes, and each of said holdingmembers being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams atleast at two points of the same spaced apart from each other inlongitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beamof one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

3. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of holdingmembers arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holding membersbeing shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at leastat two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinaldirection, thus transmitting bending moments from each of said beams toat least One of the other beams.

4. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallelholding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holdingmembers being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams atleast at two points of the same spaced apart from each other inlongitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beamof one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

5. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallelholding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holdingmembers being shaped in such a manner as to slidably embrace one of saidbeams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other inlongitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beamof. one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

6. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams, connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallelholding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holdingmembers being shaped in such a manner as to slidably embrace one of saidbeams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other inlongitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beamof one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair, and means forfastening each of said beams to the corresponding holding member inorder to prevent unwanted sliding of said beams after they have beeninserted into said holding members in the desired position.

'7. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting blockmembers connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes toeach other, each of said connecting block members provided with aplurality of holes passing through said block member and being open atboth ends and receiving one of the beams to be connected, each of saidholes being shaped and receiving said beams in such a manner that theblock member in which said hole is provided embraces said beams at leastat two points of the same spaced apart in longitudinal direction, thustransmitting bending moments from one of said beams to at least one ofthe other beams.

8. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting blockmembers connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes toeach other, each of said connecting block members being provided withtwo pairs of parallel longitudinal holes arranged in parallel planes,each of said holes passing through said block and being open at bothends and receiving one of the beams to be connected at said grid nodes,each of said holes being shaped and receiving said beams in such amanner that the block member in which said hole is provided embracessaid beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart inlongitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beamof one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

9. Beam grid consisting of relatively short grid beams and connectingunits connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes toeach other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs oftubular holding members and each of said tubular holding members beingshaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at twopoints of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinaldirection, thus transmitting bending moments from each of said beams toat least one of the other beams.

10. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beam and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of paralleltubular holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of saidtubular holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace oneof said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from eachother in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments fromone beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

11. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams, connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of paralleltubular holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of saidtubular holding members being shaped in such a manner as to slidablyembrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spacedapart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmittingbending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of thesame beam pair, and means for fastening each of said beams to thecorresponding tubular holding member in order to prevent unwantedsliding of said beams after they have been inserted into said holdingmembers in the desired position.

12. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallelholding bracket arranged in parallel planes and provided with co-axiallyarranged openings, each set of co-axially arranged openings being shapedin such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two pointsof the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thustransmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the otherbeam of the same beam pair.

13. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting unitsconnecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to eachother, each of said connecting units consisting of at least two members,means rotatably securing said members to each other, and means forfastening said members in the desired relative position to each other,each of said members comprising a pair of parallel holding members forsaid grid beams, said pairs of parallel holding members being arrangedin parallel planes and each of said holding members being shaped in sucha manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of thesame spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thustransmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the otherbeam of the same beam pair.

STEVEN D. SZEGO.

